Selected Engagements

Ichor is pleased to announce the appointment of Alastair Turrell to the position of Chief Information Officer at the Department of Corrections.

Alastair was most recently Director of the Software Division at Datacom, a strategic leadership role he held over a decade, contributing significantly to growth and expansion. Joining the IT services firm in 2002, Alastair was initially appointed to lead the Infrastructure Division, with particular emphasis on building Datacom's relationship with the Government through the provision of these services.

Prior to this, he was Partner and Managing Consultant at the PA Consulting Group for six years, working across London, Sydney and Auckland/Wellington. During this period, he led a series of high-impact IT transformation projects for clients including the London Futures Exchange and ANZ Bank.

With an earlier career in IT and management consulting, Alastair's commercial acumen, exceptional people skills and knowledge of the public sector position him well for success in this new role.

Ichor is pleased to announce the appointment of Jude Urlich to the position of General Manager - Strategy and Performance at WorkSafe New Zealand.

Jude is currently the Director of Engagement and Implementation at PHARMAC, a role she has held for the past four years. Having commenced at PHARMAC in 2010, she previously led this Crown entity's corporate and external relations.

Prior to this, she was Director at the Ministry of Economic Development, leading a programme of work that increased consumer consideration and changes in manufacturer attitudes and behaviour. She was also previously Head of Communications at New Zealand Lotteries.

With a deep background in policy, strategy, communications and public affairs, Jude's earlier career included roles at the Victoria University of Wellington, Ministry of Justice and Telecom.

Ichor is pleased to announce the appointment of Deborah Roche to the position of Chief Governance Officer at the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).

Deborah is currently the Deputy Director-General, Policy and Trade at the Ministry for Primary Industries, a role she has held for the past five years.

Prior to this, she was lead Policy Advisor to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Earlier leadership roles within the health sector include Deputy Director-General - Policy, Ministry of Health and previously Deputy Director at the Department of Health in London.

With an extensive background in the public sector, Deborah's involvement with Crown entities commenced at the Ministry of Health, where she monitored up to eight District Health Boards, including developing close working relationships with their respective Boards.

As a thought leader with the proven ability to lead strategic initiatives across the natural resources and health sectors, Deborah brings to this position a thorough understanding of cross-government collaboration.

Ichor is pleased to announce the appointment of Patrick (Pat)
Dougherty to the position of Chief Executive at the Nelson City Council.

Pat is
currently the Chief Executive of the Kapiti Coast District Council, a role he
has held for the past nine years. Prior to this, he was Deputy Chief Executive
at the Nelson City Council.

With an
extensive background in local government, Pat is widely regarded as a Chief
Executive who can build cohesion across local authority boundaries, and brings
a strong understanding of Nelson City Council’s role as a unitary authority. In
addition, his ability to shape relationships with the community and iwi will be
useful in developing a collaborative approach to this position.

Ichor is
pleased to announce the appointment of Sean Mills to the position of Assistant
Governor/Head of Operations at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.

Sean is
currently the Chief Information Officer at the Department of Corrections, a
role he has held since mid-2016.

Prior to
this, he spent a decade with the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) where his
final leadership role was as Head of IT Service Delivery. In this role, Sean contributed
extensively to the operating performance of MSD’s technical services. Earlier,
from 1996 – 2006, he held several IT senior management roles at the ANZ Bank.

As an
experienced senior leader and business governance chair, Sean has worked on a
number of cross-government strategic initiatives, and has over 15 years’ prior
experience in the finance sector.

In his new
role at the Reserve Bank, Sean will have accountability for the Knowledge
Services, Human Resources, Communications, Financial Services, Currency
Property and Security and Risk Assessment and Assurance functions.

Ichor is
pleased to announce the appointment of John Cuthbertson to the position of New
Zealand Tax Leader at Chartered Accountants ANZ.

John has
built a successful career in the consulting sector and had held the role of
Director in the Tax/Financial Advisory Services division at PwC since 2002. He
previously joined the organisation under the Coopers & Lybrand banner in
the early 1990s.

With a wealth
of practical experience, John’s value proposition is built on his ability to
leverage his extensive consulting knowledge across multiple sectors to
contributing to the tax policy process in this key advocacy role at Chartered
Accountants ANZ.

Ichor is pleased to announce the appointment of Gaye Searancke to the position of Deputy Commissioner - Customer and Compliance Services (Business) at Inland Revenue.

Gaye was most recently the Chief Governance and Strategy Officer at the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), where she served on the Executive Team for the past two-and-a-half years.

Prior to this, she held a number of public sector roles including Deputy Chief Executive, Labour and Commercial Environment Group at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and Deputy Secretary, Competition, Trade and Investment at the Ministry of Economic Development (MED).

During her career, Gaye has set up the Labour Inspectorate as a stand-alone regulator, developed New Zealand's leading Health and Safety system to establish WorkSafe New Zealand, overseen law reforms of the financial markets and modernised the country's Patent Laws.

Ichor is pleased to announce the appointment of Sharon Thompson to the position of Deputy Commissioner - Customer & Compliance Services (Individual) at Inland Revenue, following a comprehensive search.

Sharon has an extensive career in banking, most recently with ASB and previously with Westpac. This includes leading major change for individual and business banking customers including developing a range of new strategies across small businesses, migrant banking and sales force effectiveness, all of which supported the banking network towards implementing digital strategies.